75-year-old's plea to stay in Australia is met with an unbelievable demand—find out why

A long-time resident facing an unexpected twist in her battle to stay in Australia has found herself confronted with a decision she never anticipated.

What seemed like a routine request has turned into a stunning challenge that has left many questioning the fairness of immigration policies.

The situation that has unfolded is raising eyebrows, and the outcome could have far-reaching implications.


Mary Ellis, 75, found herself caught in a battle with Australian migration officials after 40 years of calling the country home.

Despite her ongoing plea for a bridging visa to avoid being deported in handcuffs, she faced an unexpected hurdle.

Officials insisted she uses her married name, Mary McHugo, a name she had not used for almost 50 years.


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Grandmother's fight against unexpected immigration hurdles continues. Image Source: Youtube/A Current Affair


Ms Ellis was married to Sean McHugo in 1968, but their relationship ended, and she later took on the surname Ellis after marrying Martin Ellis.

Now, migration officials demanded she return to using the name McHugo, despite it being long abandoned.

Her migration agent, Stanley Shneider, expressed disbelief at the request, calling it ‘absurd’.

‘She has for 45 or so years used the surname Ellis, quite legally and properly,’ he said.

Ms Ellis has applied for 35 bridging visas, each one a three-month extension to avoid the looming threat of deportation.


Her case has drawn wide attention, particularly after her first appearance on television last year, pleading for Home Affairs to allow her to stay.

She claimed she had never left Australia since arriving in 1981.

However, accusations surfaced suggesting she had left the country under an alias in the mid-80s, which disqualified her from ‘absorbed’ citizenship.

Despite these allegations, Ms Ellis maintains she has lived in Australia legally and has deep ties to the country, including a 30-year career in hospitality and as a government worker.

Her daughter, Angela, expressed her frustration with the situation, recalling how she had left Australia as a teenager and had not seen her mother since she was 17.

‘Mum and Trevor went over to Australia first as a test run. Then we all went out as a family,’ Angela said.


Ms Ellis’ former husband, Sean McHugo, remarried in 1988 and passed away 20 years later.

Ms Ellis was told by immigration officials that she had been living illegally in Australia, which she was shocked to learn.

‘I thought well, I’m a permanent resident. You know, I carry on doing what I do every day,’ she said.

Ms Ellis had no idea her residency status was in question until she visited the Brisbane office of the Home Affairs department.

While authorities have insisted she use her married name McHugo for her visa applications, Ms Ellis and her agent argue this requirement is unnecessary.


Shneider emphasized that under the Migration Act, the minister’s intervention powers are limited, making her situation even more complicated.

Ms Ellis has become a well-loved figure in her community due to her volunteer work with The Salvation Army and her career in home care.

Despite her long history of contributing to Australian society, Ms Ellis faces constant anxiety as her visa applications are repeatedly denied.


Her case has sparked an outpouring of support on social media, with many Australians rallying behind her.

One social media user commented: ‘For goodness sake this is outrage, she so deserves to stay. The Immigration Minister needs to fix this!’

While some have questioned the allegations about Ms Ellis leaving Australia, her agent maintains his client’s version of events.


Shneider noted that she had not applied for an ‘absorbed person’ visa, as the Migration Act only grants that status to those who meet certain criteria automatically.

The government, however, remained firm, explaining that the minister could only intervene in narrow circumstances, such as if a visa is refused or a tribunal’s decision is appealed.

Support for Ms Ellis continues to grow, with many Australians frustrated by what they see as an unjust application of migration laws.

Her story has sparked a larger conversation about the complexities of immigration policies and the human cost of bureaucratic decisions.

Learn more about her story by watching the video below.


Key Takeaways
  • Mary Ellis, 75, has been living in Australia for 40 years but faces deportation after being told to use her married name, Mary McHugo, a name she hasn't used in nearly 50 years.
  • Despite her claims of never leaving Australia since 1981, accusations surfaced suggesting she left under an alias in the mid-80s, challenging her eligibility for 'absorbed' citizenship.
  • Ms Ellis' migration agent, Stanley Shneider, criticized the requirement to use the name McHugo, calling it absurd, while Ms Ellis continues to apply for bridging visas to avoid deportation.
  • The case has sparked widespread support on social media, with many questioning the fairness of immigration policies and the impact of bureaucratic decisions on individuals like Ms Ellis.

Should decades of contribution to the country be enough to grant someone permanent residency? Are the rules too rigid?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.
 

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I wonder if the visas she has getting allow her to work or if the Govt. employed her illegally???
She obviously has an Australian Tax File Number and has paid taxes.

Many years ago an English couple applied to bring their elderly Mother / Mother-in-Law to migrate to Australia. The lady had no family apart from here in Aust. They signed various statuary declarations stating that the lady would not lodge any Medical or Hospital claims that if there was any they would pay her accounts themselves.....They owned their own business and naturally paid rates & taxes. Imagine the Land Tax they were paying. They people stated that if they couldn't bring the elderly lady here they would simply close their business, making staff unemployed and claiming benefits. Result: they went back to England - transferred their funds to an English Bank Account an no longer paid taxes to the Aust & State Govts.
 
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Although her situation is open to the public, the immigration department has many other regulations for obscure reasons to refuse not only exit but even entry to Australia, and age with a Young wife is one of them, the immigration decision to denied young wives with older partners, in an effort to avoid paying widows pension if the older partner passes, at some point in the future, even although the elderly partner is currently in good health, is very pursumtuas and totally unexseptable, the immigration department aperier to be a law unto themselves,and make decisions without consolation with the laws or regulations, maybe you get rewarded if you have an idea that can be implemented to slow or stop immigration movement, as in this lady, who has no chance of changing their decision, as crazy as it seems, the whole system needs upgrades to make the correct decisions, maybe under the next government??
 
This is from an interview that she did with a newspaper:-

Home Affairs officials state that Ellis left and then re-entered Australia under different aliases on separate occasions, claims she has denied.

“People who do not have the right to remain in Australia are expected to depart," a government spokesperson said.

“Individuals who provide incorrect information may be liable to have their visa cancelled under the provisions of the Migration Act.”

“This is my home, I love Australia,” a teary Mary told local news outlets on Monday.

“I have a Driver's Licence, ID card, Medicare Card, and Pension card. Everything Australians have.

“I thought well, I'm a permanent resident. You know, I carry on doing my daily - what I do every day. Nobody said anything.”
 
so australian. some years back a couple from south africa, a doctor to boot wanted to bring there mother who was ill but would not be a burden on this country. not given so is this AUSTRALIAN. not on your nellie. not something I admire about Australia when so many ratbags are have entry.:mad:
 
She said her ex husband told her they had a permanent visa when they arrived. One shouldn't assume anything, unless they find out for themselves. There's a contention whether she left the country and returned. She remarried. Ignorance is bliss.
She came here with her 2nd husband according to her daughter. When my family came to Australia in the 60s, we knew we meant to stay permanently, but we also knew we were not officially permanent residents until we had applied for and been granted the privilege.
My aunt and uncle wrongly assumed that, when they became Australian citizens as soon as they were allowed, that their 4 very young children born overseas automatically became Australians. Fast forward 25+ years and their eldest son decided to visit his birthplace. The family had left on a British passport, but the country was now a Republic of which they had never been citizens. He was stateless. Once he had negotiated the various hoops in his country of origin to obtain citizenship and a passport, he had to apply for Australian citizenship.
This lady's story probably contains some twists and turns. I hope she gets what appears to be the commonsense outcome.
 
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so australian. some years back a couple from south africa, a doctor to boot wanted to bring there mother who was ill but would not be a burden on this country. not given so is this AUSTRALIAN. not on your nellie. not something I admire about Australia when so many ratbags are have entry.:mad:
Good morning, Jest. I understand your point which seems to be compassion. However, it goes directly from A to Z, bypassing some unforseeable scenario. What would happen to the sick mother if the unthinkable, but possible, should happen to the doctor? I hope she had other support in Sth Africa.
 
WHAT IS WRONG IN OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY THE GOVERNMENT LET CRIMINALS AND OTHER UNDESIRABLES IN TO AUSTRALIA. WHAT I CANNOT UNDERSTAND IS WHY THEY WOULD WANT TO SEND A 75 YR OLD GRANDMOTHER BACK TO WHERE SHE COMES FROM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A COMPLETELY LUDICROUS ACT. WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE WHO HAS BEEN UNDENIABLY TARGETED AND OTHER UNDESIRIABLES ARE ALLOWED TO STAY WITH BENEFITS IN OUR ONCE GLORIOUS COUNTRY.
Do you have proof that Mary Ellis is not a criminal, present or past?

Assumption is your worst enemy.
 
I can see only one legitimate reason why the immigration department would insist on her using the married name McHugh. That would be if there was no record of any divorce from her first husband.

I note that it's stated that she married McHugo in 1968, but their relationship 'ended'. There's no actual mention of a divorce.

It would certainly cause significant legal complications if this was the case.

Still, I can't see any harm to the nation from letting her stay in the country, so long as it's understood that her residency is on compassionate grounds.

If she wanted full citizenship she should have applied for it a long time ago.
 
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I can see only one legitimate reason why the immigration department would insist on her using the married name McHugh. That would be if there was no record of any divorce from her first husband.

I note that it's stated that she married McHugo in 1968, but their relationship 'ended'. There's no actual mention of a divorce.

It would certainly cause significant legal complications if this was the case.

Still, I can't see any harm to the nation from letting her stay in the country, so long as it's understood that her residency is on compassionate grounds.

If she wanted full citizenship she should have applied for it a long time ago.
Yes, I agree. Plus, she stated that she doesn't know anyone in the UK, except her daughter lives there apparently. Anyway, time will tell if she is allowed to stay in 'Our Lucky Country'.
 
I can see only one legitimate reason why the immigration department would insist on her using the married name McHugh. That would be if there was no record of any divorce from her first husband.

I note that it's stated that she married McHugo in 1968, but their relationship 'ended'. There's no actual mention of a divorce.

It would certainly cause significant legal complications if this was the case.

Still, I can't see any harm to the nation from letting her stay in the country, so long as it's understood that her residency is on compassionate grounds.

If she wanted full citizenship she should have applied for it a long time ago.
If she is from the UK she was probably told, as we were when we arrived, that there was no need to become Australian Citizens as people from UK had permanent residence after staying for two years.
 
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If she is from the UK she was probably told, as we were when we arrived, that there was no need to become Australian Citizens as people from UK had permanent residence after staying for two years.
Really? I know quite a few friend's parents who were 'ten pound poms' and they needed to still apply. They told me. Perhaps it was a different time when you arrived.
 
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Exactly I agree with Reet .. Also why did She have to apply 35 times for a Bridging Visa in order to avoid deportation She must have been notified what was expected of her at the very start of Her application .
 
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